Chapter 225

“Form a line!”

It wasn’t just Encrid who seemed pleased with this turn of events. Krais also stepped forward.

No, he shouted out the moment he saw Encrid arrive, showing no fear.

Yet, everyone else’s gaze remained fixed on Encrid.

Their eyes seemed to be full of questions.

Encrid instinctively met each of their gazes in turn.

The half-Giant’s eyes seemed to say:

‘Keep your promise to fight again.’

Swift Blade adopted a stance that looked almost like a provocation. He shrugged his shoulders and smirked as if he thought nothing of his opponent.

It was a crude provocation.

“I’ve come to settle my previous debt.”

Count Molsen’s son spoke in a commanding tone, as if it was a matter of course that he should go first.

Finally, the swordsman who had previously leeched off the Rockfreed merchant guild like a mosquito, stared at Encrid with wide eyes.

He looked very surprised.

No, he didn’t even bother to hide his surprise. It seemed he had no intention of doing so. He even spoke up.

“Unbelievable. Your skills have really improved. I didn’t think you’d survive dozens of near-deaths.”

It was a fair statement.

Encrid had reached his current state by risking his life hundreds of times.

It wasn’t just a matter of surviving near-death experiences, but truly dying hundreds of times to reach this point.

Of course, that was something no one could know.

Encrid needed time to ponder.

Who should he fight first?

“What’s with the line? Hey, you fought that woman yesterday? You’re lucky to be alive.”

It was the guy called Swift Blade. He had an annoying smile. His appearance was not at all likable.

But that wasn’t what mattered.

His stance, his relaxed posture, everything indicated his skill.

He stood in a position that allowed him to keep everyone in sight, with his hand relaxed but ready to draw his sword at any moment.

Encrid found it remarkable that he could see all this now.

‘Contemplate.’

Think, and think again.

It was like a mantra.

It happened while he was mulling over Audin’s words.

“I don’t care who it is.”

Encrid answered after reaching a conclusion.

“…You’re saying you can beat anyone!”

What was his name again? He had heard it just a moment ago but had already forgotten.

“Sorry, but what was your name again? Count’s offspring?”

When Encrid asked, Edin Molsen’s face turned red.

A true provocation had to be sincere.

It was different from Swift Blade’s clumsy attempt. He had genuinely forgotten the name.

He was busy observing the bountiful harvest.

“What?”

Edin’s face showed not just confusion but anger, and he didn’t care about the others’ gazes.

“I’ll teach you some manners.”

“Step in line!”

Krais, who seemed to have left his fear at the barracks, spoke up again as Edin took a step forward.

“If you want to die, feel free to interfere again. Soldier.”

Krais shrugged at Edin’s arrogant words and replied, “It’s troublesome if we continue this here. You’re blocking the path where the merchant wagons and people are passing.”

“Fine, I’ll kill you.”

Edin, filled with rage, turned towards Krais, placing his hand on his sword and drawing it. The sound of metal scraping against the scabbard echoed immediately after.

“Rem! Rem! Commander! Commander!”

Krais quickly retreated, shouting as he hid behind Rem, who was nearby. Edin’s sword stopped.

“…Why do you sometimes seem so annoying to me?”

Rem muttered as he stepped forward, the two hand axes at his waist dangling. In a nonchalant manner, he spoke again.

“Well, it seems like a reasonable request. Let’s change the location.”

He scanned left and right with his eyes, addressing everyone present.

To his surprise,

‘That crazy Commander.’

It was because of Encrid’s actions. Though he understood why Encrid was excited, his behavior seemed excessive.

“Against the three of us?”

The swordsman with a rapier spoke.

Indeed.

Encrid was gauging the distance, seemingly preparing to face the half-Giant warrior, the rapier swordsman, and Swift Blade all at once.

‘He’s going to get himself killed at this rate.’

Unbeknownst to Rem, Encrid had already faced death numerous times.

“Ambitious, my brother.”

When Audin spoke from behind, the deadly aura emanating from Encrid diminished.

“Whatever this is about, I don’t think it’s worth causing damage to the city.”

The rapier swordsman said, taking a step back.

“Whatever.”

As Swift Blade also took a step back, the half-Giant warrior silently calmed her aura.

“…I’ve cleared the area behind the inn.”

It was Allen, the innkeeper, who spoke. It was a merchant’s habit, perhaps. Seeing that all of them would likely stay in the city, and not being particularly attached to Krona, he decided to take action.

Allen had created a decent training ground behind the inn, choosing space over food to attract guests, given that rumors about Vanessa’s pumpkin soup and herbal pies had been drawing away customers recently.

“Good.”

Encrid nodded.

Soon, the innkeeper Allen began guiding people one by one to the designated area. While everyone was moving, Rem approached Encrid.

“Do you have a death wish? If you’ve hurt your head, you should rest.”

“I don’t want to hear that from you, at least.”

Krais, listening to their conversation, chimed in.

“What do you think, Commander?”

Having successfully executed his ploy, he wanted to hear Encrid’s thoughts.

Encrid had to acknowledge it.

After diverting the water and planting seeds, hadn’t there been a bountiful harvest?

“You can have it this month too.”

It was about the tribute to the Gilpin Guild, which was the most important thing in Krais’s life.

“Sounds good.”

As they walked and exchanged trivial talk, the last to remain, Edin, erupted in fury.

“You bastards! Do you think you can treat a noble of the Kingdom like this?”

If he were a dragon, he would have breathed fire.

Ah, I almost forgot.

Encrid thought to himself and made up his mind before speaking.

“I’ll take on the Count’s son first. Why don’t you all step back?”

A noble’s offspring, and an arrogant one at that, being the son of Count Molsen, known as the Grand Duke of the North. He should be given some respect.

“You scoundrel, I’ll strip you of that arrogance.”

With Edin in the lead, his companions, and the last one standing idly at the back, passed by Encrid’s group.

Whatever the outcome, Encrid was satisfied at the moment.

Everyone silently headed to the vacant lot behind the inn. They had demolished an entire building used as a warehouse and laid out a wide area with blue stone. There were even a few chairs brought in, making it look like a proper training ground.

“Count’s son goes first. Everyone, please wait!”

Like a clown warming up the audience, Krais stepped forward and shouted.

They expected some complaints, but none came. Everyone just watched silently.

Some with curiosity in their eyes, others with arrogance.

Encrid stood face to face with Edin.

Edin, pointing his sword forward, spoke.

“Come at me first!”

Encrid did as he was told.

He closed the distance with long strides, without even drawing his sword.

“Are you underestimating me?”

Edin gritted his teeth and spat out his words as he swung his sword down.

Encrid didn’t stop walking.

What could he say?

He wanted to show the spectators what he was capable of.

What his sword was.

Who the person they had come to see was.

In a way, it was reckless, and in another, it was audacious.

If he achieved his goal, it would be seen as boldness. If not, it would be mere recklessness.

Confidence and arrogance are often separated by a thin line.

And Encrid displayed confidence instead of arrogance.

He watched the descending sword and drew his own with his left hand.

Clang!

In one breath, he parried the attack, catching Edin’s sword near the hilt with the ricasso of his own sword.

The closer to the hilt, the easier it was to transfer force.

Thud.

A dull sound echoed, disproportionate to the force of the downward strike.

He absorbed the force by bending his knees as he blocked.

Then he performed a bind.

Once the swords were locked, the rest was easy. He closed the distance with a long step forward with his left foot, twisted his waist, and threw a punch with his right hand.

Thud!

Although it seemed like the defense and attack were separate actions, they happened almost simultaneously, making it look like one movement.

“Ugh!”

Even with leather armor, Encrid’s punch was more than just heavy—it was a weapon.

He possessed strength that would surprise even the half-Giant warrior.

Thanks to his diligent strength training, Edin coughed up something from the force of that single blow.

Edin Molsen, though better than when he was by his father’s side, was still lacking.

‘Inadequate.’

He was lacking in many areas, including practical experience. In a duel, he might drag out the fight with tactics, but he was weak against unconventional methods. That was Encrid’s assessment.

It was, in a way, a foolish move.

Approaching without defense, blocking an attack, and landing a punch?

If he had made a mistake, the advantage would have been Edin’s.

But in combat, the outcome is what matters most.

Encrid looked up from the fallen Edin.

“Are you just going to watch from behind?”

He asked.

The question was directed at Edin’s bodyguards.

One of them tensed at the question. His gaze towards Encrid was sharp.

The bodyguard gritted his teeth and shook his head.

He didn’t seem like the type to avoid a fight, but maybe he thought the time wasn’t right?

It didn’t matter. There were plenty of others to face.

The rapier swordsman was truly astonished.

‘He’s improved?’

There is always a gap between assessing someone’s stance and seeing them in actual combat.

Encrid was seasoned, bold, and knew how to enjoy a fight.

What could he say?

For him, it was unimaginable that Encrid could change so drastically.

‘He’s improved immensely.’

What could one call this?

It was like looking back at a barren wasteland and finding a lush green field instead.

“Incredible.”

The words slipped out unconsciously.

Despite not appearing to be a genius, his skills had increased at an abnormal rate.

“There are many things to be surprised about.”

The female warrior next to him spoke. She was several heads taller than him.

“You don’t know how he used to be?”

“The present is all that matters.”

She said, her eyes glinting. She was another extraordinary individual, not an ordinary person by any means.

The female warrior also showed a hint of curiosity as she looked at the rapier swordsman.

‘Who exactly are you?’

That was it.

That was all. They both lost interest in each other.

No, they didn’t pay attention to each other.

At this moment, there was someone more important to both of them.

The rapier swordsman felt a surge of curiosity for the first time in a long while.

Once called the reincarnation of the Frog, he was weak to the curiosity that stimulated him.

Therefore, he wanted to fight. He wanted to duel and assess his opponent.

But the female warrior stepped forward first.

“It’s my turn, isn’t it?”

But that wasn’t going to happen.

“Why don’t you have a little fun with me for a day, sister? It seems our brother here is itching for a fight.”

With Audin’s words, the swordsman called Swift Blade stepped forward.

“You have a good eye, big guy.”

It was true. Watching the fight made Swift Blade’s blood boil.

He was someone who made you want to slice him up just by looking at him.

“Well, he’s perfect to play with. I’ll give him up.”

The words were spoken as Swift Blade headed towards the center of the training ground.

They weren’t meant for him. It was the guy with the gray hair and annoying eyes.

The one who first said their Commander’s head was broken.

He wanted to slice him up too.

With those thoughts, he faced Encrid.

“You can throw a good punch, huh?”

“I think I’m even better with a sword.”

Listen to this guy talk.

Swift Blade stopped smiling outwardly. He was someone whose outward appearance often contrasted with his inner feelings.

When he smiled outwardly, he wasn’t happy.

When his expression hardened, he was truly enjoying himself.

‘I’ll have to cut off one of his arms.’

Then those eyes will change, right?

Straight and proper. His opponent’s eyes spoke of his nature.

Swift Blade was skilled at reading his opponent’s nature.

And at changing it.

When those straight and proper eyes were filled with fear and desperation, he felt a rush of pleasure.

Just the thought excited him.

‘I want to slice him up quickly.’

He would drive him slowly, like preparing a dish. He sincerely hoped the opponent wouldn’t crumble from just a few scratches.

Swift Blade genuinely hoped so.

The fight between the two was quite prolonged. They targeted each other with small, precise moves.

In the end, Swift Blade left sixteen sword marks on Encrid’s body.

The hole in his abdomen was close to being fatal, just a bit off from being a deadly wound.

And yet.

“Wow, you’re something.”

His opponent’s eyes hadn’t changed. Swift Blade smiled.

This situation wasn’t enjoyable to him right now.

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